Papa Michigan talks resilience in Fear No Evil
As a footballer and entertainer, Papa Michigan has experienced several highs, but he has also e
xperienced his share of challenges in a near-50 year career.
Resilience is the message behind Fear No Evil, the veteran toaster’s self-produced song which was released in August.
“The inspiration came from the Psalms and my own journey in music and life. Over the years I’ve faced challenges, but I always held on to the belief that Jah protects His children. I wanted to put that feeling into music so people could find courage and hope,” Papa Michigan said in an interview with the Jamaica Observer.
Fear No Evil is his second released song for 2025. He also conducts interviews with mainly dancehall contemporaries for
Artiste Reasoning, the YouTube channel he started seven years ago.
Getting songs like Fear No Evil out to the public is far different than when he started his recording career as part of Papa Michigan and General Smiley 46 years ago.
“It has changed in many ways. Back in the day, it was all about vinyl, sound systems, and radio play. Now it’s streaming, social media, and digital platforms. The technology changed, but the core remains the same. If you make good music with a real message, it will find the people,” he said.
Born Anthony Fairclough in Central Kingston, Papa Michigan was introduced to music during the late 1970s through that region’s competitive sound system scene. At the time, he was goalkeeper for a talented Tivoli Gardens Comprehensive High School team who were runners-up in the 1977 Manning Cup, and which won the Walker Cup the following year.
In 1978, he and General Smiley broke through with Rub A Dub Style, produced by Clement Dodd for Studio One. One year later, the duo followed-up with Nice Up The Dance, another Studio One production.
They had other hits such as Diseases and Uptown Downtown, but have been inactive for over 15 years. Those songs, Papa Michigan noted, are timeless.
“Without a doubt. Songs like Rub A Dub Style, Nice Up The Dance, and Diseases are still played worldwide and inspire new generations. That shows me the music was not just a passing vibe, it was history in the making, and it still lives on today,” he said.
